“It’s far more elementary. The book is mostly graphics of non-verbal cues you need to be familiar with.”
“And the status position thing,” Rachel said.
“Lucky for you I’m being chill.” Cricket poured them both a cup of coffee.
“How so?”
“Lev must have mentioned humans are below our omegas in status. Any other beta would have had you on the ground, groveling in submission.”
“Look, I might play the part as low man on the totem pole, but I’m not going to be everybody’s bitch. Not yours, Lev’s or Rylee’s.” Rachel cracked the eggs and then lowered the heat. She turned to look for plates, when out of nowhere Cricket had her in bear hold. She dug her hands to break the hold, but to no avail. Rachel choked a protest, “Let go of me.”
Cricket dragged her to the living room. Small as she was, she might as well have been a champion wrestler. There was no getting out of her grip. “I like your spirit, but had you mouthed off to another beta, he or she would have nipped your ass hard enough you wouldn’t be able to sit for a week.”
“Okay, okay. Just let me go.”
Cricket released her. “That was lesson number one.”
Rachel lifted her hand to slap her, but Cricket grabbed her wrist and twisted until she cried out. “Stop, please.”
Cricket dropped Rachel’s hand. “Please, Doc, don’t turn me into one of my half-sisters.”
Rachel rubbed her wrists with resentment. “I’ll play the game, but just remember all these rules and status crap are temporary.”
“Fine by me.”
Rachel returned to the omelets. Not liking to be manhandled, she considered spitting in her breakfast. No. I’m not going to stoop so low. “Did you not get along with your half-sisters?”
“That’s an understatement. They bullied me from the time I was a pup and even after I nearly died from the change. I’m the only runt to survive the change in centuries.”
“And yet, you are a beta and married to an alpha prince.”
“Former prince, he gave up his title to make me his mate.”
“That’s romantic.”
“Yep. I earned my beta status within Rylee’s pack, but amongst other packs, especially in the eyes of our king, I’m still omega.”
“
That sucks.”
“Big time.” She sighed contently. “Slade doesn’t give a damn. He thinks of me as his alpha equal.”
“Not that I plan on staying, but I heard Mia has beta status even though she is human.”
“Mia, like you, is a Stallo woman. The mother of lycans. You too can achieve that level of importance.”
Rachel served the omelets. “Lev considers me his mate, but says I don’t need to accept.”
“I need to warn you, Lev is a mutant werewolf. King Conan and others in the council even call him an abomination.”
“Because they fear he may produce mutant children with me?”
“We don’t know. Dr. Becker is still studying his many mutations. In fact, there might be some odd mutations even Lev is unaware of. Lev is possibly one of the most powerful werewolves to ever exist. Physically and mentally. He is a great asset to Team Greywolf, but we fear if not watched, he is dangerous enough to break up our society. If he goes rogue, we’re in deep shit.”
She remembered how Lev risked his life to save so many innocent humans from the bomber in New Orleans. “Trust me, Lev has a good heart.”
“I know. His father was a good lycan. If Lev had not helped Dominic recue Mia from the Russian Chess Piece mob, she might have died or been enslaved as their broodmare.”